Health Savings Accounts

Most people with health insurance, especially employer paid health insurance, really don’t know what their health care costs are. Furthermore, in many cases, they are limited in which health providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies etc) they can use.

Most people are locked into a network of doctors. They know what the co-pay is, but have no idea what the doctor actually charges.

When insured consumers are hospitalized, they rarely see the bill. They don’t know if the insurance company was overcharged or not. There are firms that audit hospital bills for insurers and self insured companies. They get paid a percentage of what they save on the bill payer by finding overcharges, duplicate charges and the like. The last I heard these firms were still making lots of money.

Overcharging, whether deliberate or not, by doctors and hospitals drive up health care costs for all. (So do malpractice suits, but that’s another story.)

In order to give consumers more direct control not only over their health costs, but in the choice of which doctor they can see or which hospital they can enter, Congress enacted the Health Savings Account Availability Act. As of the beginning of 2004, individuals who are not otherwise insured can have Health Savings Accounts (HSA) , which carry with them some very attractive tax benefits.

An individual can set up a Health Savings Account for himself or his family. An employer can add an HSA option to the so-called cafeteria benefit plan it may already offer.

The money put into the plan is before taxes, including Social Security, if part of an employer plan. Otherwise it is an above-the-line deduction, meaning you don’t have to itemize your deductions to get the tax break and that the deduction is not subject to the phase-out rules that make many itemized deductions unavailable to high wage earners.

The plan is set up like an IRA. A trustee approved by the IRS must be used. Money put in the plan grows tax free and funds withdrawn for qualified medical expenses are also tax free. Unlike the older Flexible Savings Accounts offered in employer cafeteria plans, you don’t have to spend the money put into the account by year end or otherwise lose whatever’s left. Money can be rolled over from year to year. This can allow for a nice chunk of money to accumulate that can be withdraw tax free at age 65.

In order to qualify, the individual or family must purchase a high deducible health insurance policy. These are special policies that have a minimum deductible of $1000 to a maximum of $5000 for an individual and $2000 to $10,000 for a family. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.

Individuals can deduct the lesser of $2250 or the deductible on the policy: for married couples or families it is double that. If over 55, the deduction is $600 higher for individual and $1200 higher for couples and will continue to rise at $100 a year until 2009, where it will be capped at $1000 for individuals and $2000 for families.

The money in the Health Savings Account cannot be used to pay the premiums for this policy except in certain circumstances (basically when you’re unemployed). It is meant to meet the deductible, co-pays, drug costs, eyeglasses or any other medical expense that could be itemized on an individual tax return as a medical expense.

Money withdrawn in excess of qualified medical expenses is taxed as income and subject to a 10% penalty, unless the owner is disabled or over 65. Any money in the account at death is added to the taxable estate.

There are no income limits on this plan. If started early, when you are still young and healthy a substantial amount of money could accumulate to either meet higher medical costs as you get older or to use to supplement your income.

It pays to compare the costs of this plan with whatever your insurance you have now. It might turn out that your employer’s plan is still cheaper and you might want to keep it. Or you might want to consider Health Savings Accounts for their portability (you carry it from job to job without cost or loss of any contributions) and the tax benefit of having another vehicle to shelter income and capital growth, while giving you more control over the cost and quality of your health care.

How To Buy Health Insurance

Health care in America is changing rapidly. Twenty-five years ago, most people in the United States had indemnity insurance coverage. A person with indemnity insurance could go to any doctor, hospital, or other provider (which would bill for each service given), and the insurance and the patient would each pay part of the bill.

But today, more than half of all Americans who have health insurance are enrolled in some kind of managed care plan, an organized way of both providing services and paying for them. Different types of managed care plans work differently and include preferred provider organizations (PPOs), health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and point-of-service (POS) plans.

You've probably heard these terms before. But what do they mean, and what are the differences between them? And what do these differences mean to you?

Even if you don't get to choose the health plan yourself (for example, your employer may select the plan for your company), you still need to understand what kind of protection your health plan provides and what you will need to do to get the health care that you and your family need. The more you learn, the more easily you'll be able to decide what fits your personal needs and budget.

Choosing a Plan

What are my health plan choices?

Choosing between health plans is not as easy as it once was. Although there is no one "best" plan, there are some plans that will be better than others for you and your family's health needs. Plans differ, both in how much you have to pay and how easy it is to get the services you need. Although no plan will pay for all the costs associated with your medical care, some plans will cover more than others.

Almost all plans today have ways to reduce unnecessary use of health care-and keep down the costs of health care, too. This may affect how easily you get the care you want, but should not affect how easily you get the care you need.

Plans change from year to year, so you should carefully consider each plan, using the questions outlined in this booklet. If you get health insurance where you work, you should start with your employee benefits office. Its staff should be able to tell you what is covered under the plans available. You can also call plans directly to ask questions.

Health insurance plans are usually described as either indemnity (fee-for-service) or managed care. These types of plans differ in important ways that are described below. With any health plan, however, there is a basic premium, which is how much you or your employer pay, usually monthly, to buy health insurance coverage. In addition, there are often other payments you must make, which will vary by plan. In considering any plan, you should try to figure out its total cost to you and your family, especially if someone in the family has a chronic or serious health condition.

Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of providers, out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid. Usually, indemnity plans offer more choice of doctors (including specialists, such as cardiologists and surgeons), hospitals, and other health care providers than managed care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs of a service only after they receive a bill.

Managed care plans have agreements with certain doctors, hospitals, and health care providers to give a range of services to plan members at reduced cost. In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs if you select a managed care type plan and a broader choice of health care providers if you select an indemnity-type plan.

Over time, the distinctions between these kinds of plans have begun to blur as health plans compete for your business. Some indemnity plans offer managed care-type options, and some managed care plans offer members the opportunity to use providers who are "outside" the plan. This makes it even more important for you to understand how your health plan works.

Besides indemnity plans, there are basically three types of managed care plans: PPOs, HMOs, and POS plans.

Indemnity Plan

With an indemnity plan (sometimes called fee-for-service), you can use any medical provider (such as a doctor and hospital). You or they send the bill to the insurance company, which pays part of it. Usually, you have a deductible-such as $200-to pay each year before the insurer starts paying.

Once you meet the deductible, most indemnity plans pay a percentage of what they consider the "Usual and Customary" charge for covered services. The insurer generally pays 80 percent of the Usual and Customary costs and you pay the other 20 percent, which is known as coinsurance. If the provider charges more than the Usual and Customary rates, you will have to pay both the coinsurance and the difference.

The plan will pay for charges for medical tests and prescriptions as well as from doctors and hospitals. It may not pay for some preventive care, like checkups.

Managed Care

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). A PPO is a form of managed care closest to an indemnity plan. A PPO has arrangements with doctors, hospitals, and other providers of care who have agreed to accept lower fees from the insurer for their services. As a result, your cost sharing should be lower than if you go outside the network. In addition to the PPO doctors making referrals, plan members can refer themselves to other doctors, including ones outside the plan.

If you go to a doctor within the PPO network, you will pay a copayment (a set amount you pay for certain services-say $10 for a doctor or $5 for a prescription). Your coinsurance will be based on lower charges for PPO members.

If you choose to go outside the network, you will have to meet the deductible and pay coinsurance based on higher charges. In addition, you may have to pay the difference between what the provider charges and what the plan will pay.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). HMOs are the oldest form of managed care plan. HMOs offer members a range of health benefits, including preventive care, for a set monthly fee. There are many kinds of HMOs. If doctors are employees of the health plan and you visit them at central medical offices or clinics, it is a staff or group model HMO. Other HMOs contract with physician groups or individual doctors who have private offices. These are called individual practice associations (IPAs) or networks.

HMOs will give you a list of doctors from which to choose a primary care doctor. This doctor coordinates your care, which means that generally you must contact him or her to be referred to a specialist.

With some HMOs, you will pay nothing when you visit doctors. With other HMOs there may be a copayment, like $5 or $10, for various services.

If you belong to an HMO, the plan only covers the cost of charges for doctors in that HMO. If you go outside the HMO, you will pay the bill. This is not the case with point-of-service plans.

Point-of-Service (POS) Plan. Many HMOs offer an indemnity-type option known as a POS plan. The primary care doctors in a POS plan usually make referrals to other providers in the plan. But in a POS plan, members can refer themselves outside the plan and still get some coverage.

If the doctor makes a referral out of the network, the plan pays all or most of the bill. If you refer yourself to a provider outside the network and the service is covered by the plan, you will have to pay coinsurance.

Primary Care Doctors

Your primary care doctor will serve as your regular doctor, managing your care and working with you to make most of the medical decisions about your care as a patient. In many plans, care by specialists is only paid for if your are referred by your primary care doctor.

An HMO or a POS plan will provide you with a list of doctors from which you will choose your primary care doctor (usually a family physician, internists, obstetrician-gynecologist, or pedicatrician). This could mean you might have to choose a new primary care doctor if your current one does not belong to the plan.

PPOs allow members to use primary care doctors outside the PPO network (at a higher cost). Indemnity plans allow any doctor to be used.

Where do I get these health plans?

Group Policies

You may be able to get group health coverage-either indemnity or managed care-through your job or the job of a family member.

Many employers allow you to join or change health plans once a year during open enrollment. But once you choose a plan, you must keep it for a year. Discuss choices and limits with your employee benefits office.

Individual Policies

If you are self-employed or if your company does not offer group policies, you may need to buy individual health insurance. Individual policies cost more than group policies.

Some organizations-such as unions, professional associations, or social or civic groups-offer health plans for members. You may want to talk to an insurance broker, who can tell you more about the indemnity and managed care plans that are available for individuals. Some states also provide insurance for very small groups or the self-employed.

Medicare

Americans age 65 or older and people with certain disabilities can be covered under Medicare, a federal health insurance program.

In many parts of the country, people covered under Medicare now have a choice between managed care and indemnity plans. They also can switch their plans for any reason. However, they must officially tell the plan or the local Social Security Office, and the change may not take effect for up to 30 days. Call your local Social Security office or the state office on aging to find out what is available in your area.

Medicaid

Medicaid covers some low-income people (especially children and pregnant women), and disabled people. Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program that is run by the states.

In some cases, states require people covered under Medicaid to join managed care plans. Insurance plans and state regulations differ, so check with your state Medicaid office to learn more.

Pre-Existing Conditions

A pre-existing condition is a medical condition diagnosed or treated before joining a new plan. In the past, health care given for a pre-existing condition often has not been covered for someone who joins a new plan until after a waiting period. However, a new law-called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-changes the rules.

Under the law, most of which goes into effect on July 1, 1997, a pre-existing condition will be covered without a waiting period when you join a new group plan if you have been insured the previous 12 months. This means that if you remain insured for 12 months or more, you will be able to go from one job to another, and your pre-existing condition will be covered-without additional waiting periods-even if you have a chronic illness.

If you have a pre-existing condition and have not been insured the previous 12 months before joining a new plan, the longest you will have to wait before you are covered for that condition is 12 months.

Shopping for insurance quotes has never been easier!

Shopping for insurance quotes has never been easier!
If you are looking for insurance quotes on Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Home Insurance, Car Insurance or Long Term Care Insurance then look no further.

At InsuranceQuotesForFree.com, we are committed to helping you find health, home, auto and life insurance that fits your needs—and your budget. We’ve also partnered with InsureMe to put you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to compare up to five free quotes on the insurance of your choice. Since 1993, we have helped millions of consumers save money by offering them up to five free insurance quotes on their health insurance, home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and long term care insurance.

If your like most consumers today you want to make sure that:
1. You are getting the most for your money.
2. You don't want to waste hours of your time contacting insurance company after insurance company to get the best insurance quotes and insurance coverage.
3. You want to know that you are dealing with a reputable insurance company.
4. You want to know who your insurance agent is.

Finding the right insurance policy for you and your family is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. We strongly believe that you should never leave these decisions to strangers or some anonymous source over the internet. That is why we put you in contact with a certified insurance agent in your area. They will offer you the best insurance quotes available and be able to answer your questions.

Best prices available. Health insurance premiums are regulated by each state’s Department of Insurance. Whether you buy through InsureMe or your local agent, you can be assured that you’re getting the same rate for the same plan. You can enjoy all the great services we offer and take advantage of the convenience of shopping online and never worry you’ll pay more than you need to.


# What We Offer:

# We have a network of thousands of health, home, life, auto and long term care insurance providers across the nation just waiting to offer you free insurance quotes.

# Receive up to 5 FREE INSURANCE QUOTES!
# The opportunity to actually speak with insurance agents in your area.
# You get the best Health, Life, Home, Car or Long Term Care Insurance quotes these agents have to offer.
# Insurance quotes that are designed especially for your needs.
# Receive discounts when you combine Auto Insurance with Homeowners Insurance.
# We do the shopping for you.



# How It Works


Just fill out our simple questionaire and we do the rest.

We scan our database for licensed insurance agents in your area that best match your information. When it finds a match, your information is immediately sent to them, they work up their best free insurance quotes and contact you with their rates usually the same day.

We will then email you the list of licensed insurance agents who will be contacting you with their free insurance quotes. It's that simple!

You'll get back up to five free insurance quotes so you can compare and save.

# Free Insurance Quotes
No matter if you are looking for health, home, auto, life or long term care insurance, the insurance quotes that we provide for you are always FREE! This is without a doubt the easiest and fastest way to shop for all your insurance needs.

# Discounts On Combined Auto And Home Insurance
Save money when you sign up for both Auto and Home Insurance. Just click on the option "Auto - Home" when selecting your insurance quotes.


# Your Privacy
Your privacy is vitally important to us. We never condone the use of spam and will never sell or rent your email information to anyone.


# Get Started Today.
Receive the best Health Insurance, Car Insurance, Health Insurance, Home Insurance or Long Term Care Insurance quotes available to you, fill out our form now. You'll find the insurance you need at a gr

"How To Generate Automatic Referrals And Renewals By Providing Outstanding Customer Service!"

Do You Make These Fatal Mistakes When Servicing Your Clients?


This just may be one of the most important subjects I will ever write about, which will provide the key to generating a flood of leads for insurance agents and unlimited life insurance sales leads.

How, you ask?

Quite simply - if you don't take excellent care of your clients, they will find someone else (your competition) who will.

Before I go into a detailed discussion on how to generate a flood of leads for insurance agents and unlimited life insurance sales leads by providing outstanding customer service, let's explore some of the "fatal" mistakes that the majority of businesses make when dealing with their customers

Recently, I ordered sushi for delivery from one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Manhattan.

My order arrived, and my wife and I began feasting on our favorite delicacy - raw fish.

Much to my dismay, about halfway through our meal, I discovered a small dead bug nestled on the outside of one of my sushi rolls that I was about to eat.

When I discovered the bug, my wife and I became instantly nauseous, and I decided to call the restaurant to let them know what had happened.

Here's how the conversation went... Me:


"Hello, can I speak to the restaurant manager?"

Woman on the other
side of the phone:


"Can I ask what this is in reference to?"

Me:


"Yes, if you really must know, I found a bug in my sushi!"

Woman:


"Ok, sir, please hold on."

Manager:


"Hello, how can I help you?"

Me:


"I ordered sushi from you, and I just found a bug in my sushi roll."

Manager:


"Really? Which sushi roll was it in?"

Me:


"The California Roll?"

Manager:


"What does the bug look like?"

Me:


"It's black and disgusting."

Manager:


"I'd like to send someone by to pick it up. Then, I'd be happy to give you a new California roll, or credit you for the one with the bug in it."

Me:


"Are you out of your mind! I order in from your restaurant twice a week. I'm telling you my wife and I feel physically ill because you put a dead bug in our sushi, and you are interrogating me like a criminal. What kind of establishment do you run anyway?"

Manager:


"I'm sorry sir, but that's our policy."

Believe it or not, they actually DID send someone to pick up my sushi with the bug in it, and after giving the manager an earful about customer service, she finally gave us a full credit for the meal. But, only after she had interrogated us, made us feel like liars, and left us with a horrible impression about her restaurant.

By the way, this is a true story. The sad truth is, this type of behavior towards customers seems to be the norm rather than the exception.

Think about this for a moment:

1. When was the last time you made reservations at a popular restaurant only to wait 30 minutes to an hour after the time of your reservation to be seated?
2. When was the last time you went into a clothing store, and asked one of the store clerks for help only to receive a blank stare of ignorance, or rude and inappropriate behavior?
3. When was the last time you left a voicemail message for a person or company which wasn't returned for several days or even worse, not returned at all?

Why did you think corporate earnings have slowed for many businesses?

Because they fail to place a high enough value on client retention.

Most companies focus all of their time, energy, and money on one thing…
Getting New Customers In The Door!

But once they get a new client, they spend almost no time, energy or money on keeping that client happy.
This Is A Huge Mistake!

Did you know it's five times more expensive to market to a prospect (someone who doesn't know you) than a client (someone who knows and trusts you).

Where do you think long-term profits and earnings come from - constantly having to find new customers OR maintaining your existing client base and growing it through referrals and renewals?

I think the answer is pretty obvious yet most businesses I've observed do the exact opposite.

They spend the majority of their time trying to convince strangers to do business with them, and they completely ignore their most valuable asset…
Their Existing Clients!

Dan Sullivan, a top success coach, and founder of The Strategic Coach®, created a set of four habits salespeople and entrepreneurs need to practice in order to maintain their existing clients, and generate automatic, unsolicited referrals.

Here Are Dan Sullivan's Four Referrability Habits:
1. Show Up On Time

How often do service providers show up late, return calls late, or keep their clients waiting?

This creates a feeling of anger and resentment and make your clients feel like you don't respect or value their time.

Don't make this mistake - return calls when promised, and show up to all appointments and seminars on time.

Here Are Dan Sullivan's Four Referrability Habits:
1. Show Up On Time

How often do service providers show up late, return calls late, or keep their clients waiting?

This creates a feeling of anger and resentment and make your clients feel like you don't respect or value their time.

Don't make this mistake - return calls when promised, and show up to all appointments and seminars on time.
2. Do What You Say

How many salespeople and service providers promise you the world before they have your money, then fall far short of providing the service they originally promised after they have your money?

This may get a company the sale once, but no one will ever repeat purchase from them since they didn't do what they originally promised.
3. Finish What You Start

Builders and contractors are notorious for not finishing what they start. All of us have experienced entering into an agreement with a service provider who does half the work, and then stops for one reason or another and never completes the job.

Make sure you finish what you start with all of your clients - that means sticking with them all the way through negotiating for a better financial aid package, and making sure they get what they deserved at the different schools they applied to.

Don't make the mistake of only focusing on signing up new clients without also completing the service for your existing clients.

Remember, you want your existing clients to renew with you next year.
4. Say Please And Thank You

When was the last time a service provider said "please" and "thank you" and genuinely meant it?

You must show appreciation for your clients - they are the lifeblood of your business. Make sure you treat them like gold!

Sullivan's Four Referrability Habits sound deceptively simple, don't they?

The problem is not 1 in 100 businesses actually practice these four simple skills consistently.

I've added some additional habits that I feel are necessary for you to automatically generate referrals and renewals:
5. Underpromise And Overdeliver

Most salespeople do the exact opposite of this - they promise you the world, and automatically set you up for disappointment.

Always promise your clients less than what you think you can accomplish. This way, when your results are better than expected, they think you walk on water, and end up referring and renewing with you.

If, on the other hand, you promise you will get your clients a fully paid private university education, you are bound to disappoint them which means they won't be referring or renewing with you and they will tell, at least, 5 - 10 of their friends not to use your services.

Don't make this mistake - instead underpromise and overdeliver.
6. Bond With Your Clients

Most businesses don't have any idea how to "bond" with their clients. They feel business relationships should be treated differently than personal relationships.
They're Dead Wrong!

People are people, and they enjoy the emotions of love, respect, friendship, closeness, honesty, integrity, recognition, etc., regardless of whether the relationship is business or personal.

Don't try to fight this. Instead, look at all of your clients as friends, and treat them that way.

Send them written correspondence once a month to keep in touch with them (I love using a monthly newsletter for this!), send them unexpected gifts (like books, audiotapes, brownies) to let them know how much you appreciate them, admit when you're wrong instead of arguing and send apology letters or gifts, recognize them in your newsletter and let them know they're special, and make personal calls to your best clients to see how they're doing.

If you consistently practice the six habits over the next 90 days, you will start to see a drastic change in your business.

Business will start to flow to you almost automatically without you having to push so hard for it.

You will also begin to enjoy your business and your clients more, and it will start to feel more like fun instead of work.

Also, make sure you constantly listen to your clients - what they like, what they don't like, why they bought from you, why they renewed with you, what other products and services you can provide for them, etc.

E-Commerce & Internet business trends analyzed

E-Commerce & Internet business trends analyzed
The following trends are provided in our research products:

1. Introduction to the E-Commerce & Internet Industry> (View Sample Data)
2. Booking Travel Over the Internet Becomes the Norm
3. Apple’s iPod Revitalizes the Music Industry/Amazon and MySpace Follow Suit
4. Internet Film and TV Content Explodes
5. User Generated Content, Social Media, Video, Blogs and Wikis Abound
6. Car Purchasers Rely on the Internet
7. Health Information Research Remains a Leading Use of the Internet
8. Bricks, Clicks and Catalogs Create Synergies While Online Sales Growth Slows
9. Amazon Posts Growth While Other Retailers Suffer
10. Online Advertising Becomes Targeted, Nears 9% of Total U.S. Advertising Market
11. Banks See Growth in Online Services
12. Insurance Direct Selling and E-Commerce Grows
13. Wi-Fi Accelerates
14. WiMAX Extends Wireless Range Far Beyond Wi-Fi
15. Last Mile Challenges Tumble; Mass Broadband Markets Emerge
16. Fiber-to-the-Home Gains Traction
17. Services Available via Ultra-High-Speed Broadband are Imaginative, Futuristic
18. U.S. Broadband Connections Rank Behind Other Nations
19. VOIP Use Soars and Threatens to Revolutionize Telecom
20. Telecommunications Move Online Including Unified Communications, Telepresence
21. Security Needs Flourish/Firefox and Google Chrome Grow



E-Commerce & Internet business statistics analyzed
The following statistical tables are provided in our research products:

1. E-Commerce & Internet Overview > (View Sample Data)
2. Estimated Quarterly U.S. Retail Sales, Total & E-Commerce: 1st Quarter 2001-3rd Quarter 2008
3. E-Commerce Industry Quarterly Revenues: 2007-2008
4. Internet Publishing & Broadcasting, Internet Service Providers & Web Search Portals: Estimated Revenue & Expenses, U.S.: 2004-2007
5. World Internet Usage & Population Statistics: 2008
6. Internet Access Technologies Compared
7. Number of Business & Residential High Speed Internet Lines, U.S.: 2001-2007
8. Number of Residential High Speed Internet Lines, U.S.: 2001-2007
9. Percent of Home Broadband Adoption Across Population Subgroups, U.S.: 2005-2008
10. Demographics of Internet Users by Sex, Age, Race, Geography, Income & Education: December 2008
11. Most Common Internet Activities, U.S.
12. Most Common Daily Internet Activities, U.S.
13. U.S. Internet Statistics & Top Sites, Home: December 2008
14. U.S. Internet Statistics & Top Sites, Work: December 2008
15. Top 25 Companies & Top 10 Brands Online at Home & Work by Unique Audience & Time Spent: December 2008
16. Top 20 Websites, U.S.: December 2008
17. Top 20 E-Commerce Sites, U.S.: January 2009
18. Internet Advertising Figures: 2000-2008
19. Weekly Internet Advertising Statistics by Industry, Company & Genre
20. Leading Search Engines, U.S.: December 2007 vs. December 2008
21. eBay Quarterly Statistics: 2003-2008
Overview of Plunkett's E-Commerce & Internet Industry coverage

E-commerce is booming! Broadband Internet access has finally become mass market in scale. Access by broadband methods, including DSL, cable modem and satellite, has reached critical mass. Tens of millions of American homes now have broadband access. Meanwhile, broadband access to the Internet has become standard at most businesses and offices. Cable modem and DSL are battling fiercely for market share.

On the wireless side, Wi-Fi is enjoying steady growth, with tens of thousands of public Wi-Fi hotspots now in operation across the U.S. Bluetooth has gained wide acceptance for wireless connection of networks to appliances such as printers, PDAs and cell phones. Meanwhile, WiMax, with its low cost and range of up to 30 miles, threatens to revolutionize wireless access to the Internet. Sprint Nextel, Motorola and Intel have recently announced massive investments in WiMax.

The booking of travel online is perhaps the most successful niche of all of the world's e-commerce efforts. Consumers use the Internet to become better informed and to seek bargains. Online sites like Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz steer millions of consumers toward specific airlines and hotels in a manner that lowers prices and improves satisfaction among consumers.

Meanwhile, retailers of many types are enjoying soaring sales via the Internet, and most national retail chains have carefully developed bricks and clicks strategies that integrate their online efforts with their stores and catalogs. At the same time, many online-only retailers are finding that their revenues are growing rapidly as more and more consumers begin to rely on the convenience of shopping online.

This carefully-researched book (which includes a database of leading companies on CD-ROM) is a complete e-commerce and Internet market research and competitive intelligence tool-- everything you need to know about the business of online access, broadband, wireless and Wi-Fi, Internet retailing, online payment processing, technologies, web-based businesses and networks and more, including:

1. Market research, competitive intelligence and business analysis for all Internet and e-commerce business sectors

2. Analysis of major e-commerce, Internet and online access trends and developments

3. Wi-Fi, WiMax and other wireless access methods, including Bluetooth

4. Broadband Internet access analysis and trends, including access at home and at work via DSL and cable modem

5. Retailing on the Internet, bricks and clicks strategies, including major online retailers such as Amazon.com, Blue Nile and Bluefly

6. E-commerce trends in the travel business, including online booking, ticket sales and research—as well as profiles of leading online travel companies such as Expedia and Orbitz

7. Internet and e-commerce consultants

8. Networking equipment, IP software and hardware manufacturers, distributors and trends.

9. FTTP (Fiber to the premises) and FTTH (Fiber to the home) trends.

10. Web-based businesses, ASPs (Application Service Providers) and ISPs (Internet Service Providers)

11. Internet based telephone (VOIP), voice over the Internet

12. Convergence of voice, video, data, entertainment over the Internet


You'll find a complete overview, industry analysis and market research report in one superb, value-priced package. This book also includes statistical tables, an Internet industry glossary, industry contacts and thorough indexes. The corporate profiles section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 450 leading companies in all facets of the Internet and e-commerce business. This book is available in printed, eBook and online versions. Purchasers may also receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM.

Here’s how the experts have praised this book:
“…An outstanding, comprehensive analysis of e-commerce and Internet business, packed with charts, tables and … statistics… A welcome addition to the business literature as a source of essential, unique, well-respected, highly accessible reference material.”

CHOICE magazine





“The comparative nature of this resource is one of its strongest features, enabling users to make across-the-board and across-the-country comparisons of company expenditures, growth and other key statistical areas… Plunkett’s Almanac is a unique adjunct business reference source. Several times in the course of performing business reference service, this reviewer gave her copy to her patrons researching companies included in this book. All patrons were extremely pleased with (this) information…much of it being information which they had been unable to locate elsewhere… The reviewer recommends that the Almanac be placed on standing order, if possible, for all business reference collections that take pride in being patron-responsive. The… price is justified for the wealth of information provided in this first of its kind reference…”

Indiana University-Kelley School of Business, “BUSINESS HORIZONS”

Insurance Industry Overview

Global Insurance Industry




Amount


Units


Year


Source

Total Gross Insurance Premiums


4.061


Tril. US$


2007


SwissRe

Global Premiums as % of Global GDP


7.48


Percent


2007


IMF

Global Life Insurance Premiums


2.393


Tril. US$


2007


SwissRe

Global Non-Life Insurance Premiums


1.668


Tril. US$


2007


SwissRe

Total Direct Premium Growth, 2007-2007


3.3


Percent


2007


SwissRe

Growth in Life Insurance Premiums


5.4


Percent


2007


SwissRe

Growth in Non-Life Insurance Premiums


0.7


Percent


2007


SwissRe

US Insurance Industry

Net Premiums Written by Line of Life Insurance

Life


184.2


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Annuity


327.6


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Accident and Health


154.8


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Total Financial Assets of Life Insurance Companies


4,950.3


Bil. US$


2007


Fed

Net Premiums Written by Line of Property/Casualty Insurance

Private Passenger Auto


159.7


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Commercial Auto


25.7


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Homeowners Multiple Peril


57.1


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Commerical Multiple Peril


31.3


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Workers Compensation


40.9


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Reinsurance


11.6


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Total Property/Casualty Premiums Written (After Reinsurance Transactions, Excludes State Funds)


447.9


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Total Financial Assets of Property/Casualty Insurers


1,373.6


Bil. US$


2007


Fed

Specialty Insurance (Net Premiums Written)

Title Insurance


15.61


Bil. US$


2007


ATLA

Surety Bonds (Direct Premiums Written)


5.45


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Financial Guarantee Insurance (Direct Premiums Written)


3.56


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance


4.18


Bil. US$


2007


MICA

Total Credit Insurance Premiums


1.77


Bil. US$


2007


NAIC

Health Insurance Coverage and the Uninsured

People with Health Insurance Coverage


259


Million


Oct. 2008


PRE

People without Health Insurance for the Entire Year


46,657


Million


2007


CMS

As Percent of Total Population


15.3


Percent


2007


CMS

Total Number of Medicare Enrollees


43.7


Million


2007


CMS

Total Number of Medicare Advantage Enrollees


9.8


Million


Sep. 2008


CMS

Employment in the Insurance Industry (As of September; Preliminary Estimates; Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Total


2,310.6


Thousand


2008


BLS

Direct Life & Health Insurance Carriers


802.2


Thousand


2008


BLS

Direct Health & Medical Insurance Carriers


440.8


Thousand


2008


BLS

Direct Property & Casualty Insurers


495.0


Thousand


2008


BLS

Reinsurance Carriers


31.8


Thousand


2008


BLS

Insurance Agencies & Brokerages


677.9


Thousand


2008


BLS

IMF = International Monetary Fund; NAIC = National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Fed = Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; ALTA = American Land Title Association; MICA = Mortgage Insurance Companies of America; PRE = Plunkett Research estimate; CMS = Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; BLS = U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.


Source: Plunkett Research, Ltd.

Plunkett's Insurance Industry Almanac 2009, Copyright ©, 2008, All Rights Reserved

Insurance business trends analyzed

Insurance business trends analyzed
The following trends are provided in our research products:

1. Introduction to the Insurance Industry
2. Aging Populations Create Challenges and Opportunities for the Insurance Industry
3. Selling Insurance to Consumers in Discount Stores May Grow
4. Sophisticated Risk Management and Prevention Programs Lead to Lower Losses
5. Independent Agencies Continue to Dominate Commercial Insurance, but Play a Lesser Role in Personal Lines
6. Insurance Direct Selling and E-Commerce Grow
7. Technology Drives Efficiencies in Back Office Tasks, Underwriting, Agency Networks and Customer Service
8. Homeowner’s Insurance Passes More Risk to the Policy Holders and Relies on Sophisticated Risk Analysis Tools to Set Rates
9. Insurance Industry Reform May Be on the Horizon
10. Insurance Industry Mergers and Acquisitions Continue
11. No End in Sight to the Growth of Specialized Insurance Lines
12. Variable Annuity Accounts Top $1.4 Trillion in the U.S., While Costs and Sales Practices are Scrutinized
13. Major U.S., Japanese and European Insurance Firms See Vast Promise in the Chinese Market
14. Insurers Target Developing Markets
15. Continued Rise in Health Care Costs
16. Employers Push Health Care Costs onto Employees
17. Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts Put Responsibility on the Patient
18. Malpractice Suits Are Blamed for Rising Health Care Costs/Tort Reform Is Capping Awards for Damages
19. Medicare Changes Include Drug Benefits for Seniors/Medicare Advantage Offers Private Fee for Service Plans
20. Hedge Funds Enter the Reinsurance Field in a Big Way
21. Credit Default Swaps (CDS) Soar into the Trillions of Dollars


Insurance business statistics analyzed
The following statistical tables are provided in our research products:

1. Insurance Industry Overview > (View Sample Data)
2. Top Ten Insurance-Related Merger & Acquisition Deals, U.S.: 2007
3. Top 25 Global Insurance Companies by Revenues: 2007
4. Top 10 U.S.-Based Publicly-Traded Insurance Companies by Revenues: 2007
5. Top 20 Global Property & Casualty Insurance Companies by Revenues: 2007
6. Assets & Liabilities of U.S. Property-Casualty Insurance Companies: 2002-2nd Quarter 2008
7. Typical U.S. Automobile Insurance Costs per Year: 2008
8. Top 20 Global Life Insurance Companies by Revenues: 2007
9. Assets & Liabilities of U.S. Life Insurance Companies: 2002-2nd Quarter 2008
10. Top 20 Global Health Insurance Companies by Revenues: 2007
11. Employers' Costs for Health Insurance, Amount & Percent of Total Compensation, U.S.: Selected Years 2003-2007
12. The Nation's Health Dollar: 2008 Where It Came From (Estimated)
13. People without Health Insurance for the Entire Year, U.S.: 2006-2007
14. Percent of Persons under Age 65 Years without Health Insurance Coverage, by Age Group & Sex: U.S.: 2007
15. Percent of Persons under Age 65 with Public Health Plan Coverage & Private Health Insurance Coverage by Age Group, U.S.: 1997-2007
16. Medicare Deductible, Co-Payment & Premium Amounts: 2009
17. Employment in the Insurance Industry, U.S.: 2001-2007
18. Employment & Earnings in Insurance Industry Occupations, U.S.: May 2007





Table of contents for the book version
A Short Insurance Industry Glossary
Introduction
How to use this book
Chapter 1: Major Trends Affecting the Insurance Industry
> List Continues i
1
3
7


Individual data profiles of the Insurance Industry for 300 firms are provided in our research products
> View Sample Profile

AAA
ACE LIMITED (ACE GROUP)
AEGON NV
AEGON USA
AETNA INC


AFLAC INC
AIG AMERICAN GENERAL
AIG SUNAMERICA INC
AIOI INSURANCE CO LTD
> List Continues



Overview of Plunkett's Insurance Industry coverage

The insurance industry is rebounding from its poor financial results of a few years ago. Better risk management, higher premiums and increased use of underwriting information systems have led the way. Meanwhile, the insurance industry is increasingly globalized as cross-border investments and acquisitions continue at a rapid pace. Risk management consulting and analysis has become more sophisticated. In addition, a large number of related services and technologies have a major influence on the insurance and risk management business. These services include e-commerce, call centers and information technologies.

This carefully-researched book (which includes a database of leading companies on CD-ROM) is a complete insurance market research and business intelligence tool-- everything you need to know about the business of insurance and risk management, including:

1. Property & Casualty insurance
2. Life Insurance
3. Personal Lines
4. Specialty Lines
5. Annuities
6. Reinsurance
7. Health Insurance
8. Globalization of the insurance industry, including our profiles of the world’s leading international insurance firms
9. Insurance brokerage
10. Risk Management
11. Consulting
12. Significant trends in insurance information technologies
13. Risk analysis, call centers and other support services
14. Online insurance trends
15. Underwriting trends
16. Insurance industry software

You’ll find a complete overview, industry analysis and insurance market research report in one superb, value-priced package. It contains thousands of contacts for business and industry leaders, industry associations, Internet sites and other resources. This book also includes statistical tables, an industry glossary and thorough indexes. The corporate profiles section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 300 leading companies in all facets of the insurance and risk management industry. Here you'll find complete profiles of the hot companies that are making news today, the largest, most successful corporations in the business. Purchasers of either the book or PDF version can receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM, enabling key word search and export of key information, addresses, phone numbers and executive names with titles for every company profiled.

"This single volume provides more productive experiences in tracking financial companies and practices." (A review of the original volume.)
CHOICE magazine of the American Library Association


Key Insurance Topics

Personal Lines
Homeowners
Auto
Health Insurance
Property and Casualty (PC) Insurance
Specialty Lines
Workers Comp
Underwriting
Consulting


Brokerage
Online Insurance
Life Insurance
Supplemental Insurance
Marketing
Consolidation
Profiles of Leading Companies
Executive Mailing List on CD-ROM