I've used Carfax before to find out the repair history of a car. But I'm curious about what slips underneath their radar. Where do they get their information? Do repair shops have to report all repairs to some central authority? Or are only major events--those involving insurance claims and/or police reports--recorded?
posted by wheat
on Aug 17, 2005 -
7 answers
I've had to move to florida and for the near future will have no health insurance. Any suggestions on how to go about buying some?
[more inside]
posted by gtr
on Aug 17, 2005 -
12 answers
Having no health insurance, how can we possibly afford to pay for the delivery of our coming child? How do freelance/self-employed American families survive without health insurance? Anyone have any experience with Medicaid?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 9, 2005 -
19 answers
I just started working at a company where health insurance kicks in after 90 days,
you pay half for a year, and then the company picks up the full cost. Is this normal?
[more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero
on Jul 27, 2005 -
21 answers
Does anyone have any personal experience with buying and then having to make a claim against the insurance you can get when shipping through the major carriers, i.e. USPS, UPS. FedEx, DHL? Are any of them better than the others when it comes to making a successful claim? Or is buying it just like pissing money away because they make it so difficult to get paid if something does happen? Any tips, tricks from the community?
posted by crosten
on Jul 26, 2005 -
11 answers
My fiancé is having very rare hip surgery soon. Very few surgeons in the area perform it - she's found the one she wants - only problem is her insurance doesn't recognize him. What are some steps she can take to to help convince her insurance to give this guy the green light?
[more inside]
posted by hellbient
on Jul 26, 2005 -
10 answers
I backed into a parking garage column a couple of months ago (it was in my blind spot) and tore up my rear bumper pretty bad. Would it be worth it to report this to my insurance, or would they probably increase my premiums as a result? (FWIW, the accident happened several months ago.)
posted by designbot
on Jul 20, 2005 -
11 answers
Do I want "limited tort" or "full tort" auto insurance?
[more inside]
posted by em
on Jul 11, 2005 -
9 answers
U.S. insurance law: I've been told that, after having group coverage through an employer, if that coverage lapses for more than three months, the next insurer can declare anything previously covered to be a pre-existing condition (and so not covered.) Is this correct? Thanks.
posted by Shane
on Jul 7, 2005 -
15 answers
So I finally have to pay for my own car insurance. Any ideas on good places to start looking, tips, things to consider, etc.
In case you need it: my chief concern is price, I will be insuring me, my wife and our two cars and, between the two of us, we have had three accidents in the past five years and zero traffic violations.
posted by JPowers
on Jul 5, 2005 -
14 answers
BayAreaInsuranceFilter: What's the best and most reasonably-priced Bay Area insurer?
[more inside]
posted by symphonik
on Jun 30, 2005 -
7 answers
Hail Damage to Roof, roof companies everywhere! How do I know the right way to get a fair deal with all of these roof companies?
[more inside]
posted by huy_le
on Jun 30, 2005 -
10 answers
I work for a small business and they told me I can pick my own insurance plan. I'm really having trouble narrowing the field. Is there a method for determining which insurance plan would provide the best coverage for certain diseases?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jun 27, 2005 -
2 answers
I'm an IT contractor. My pimp doesn't offer health insurance, so its up to me to get a private policy. My wife has MS, so she's uninsurable. I have an individual BCBS plan for myself + 2 sons. My wife belongs to a state-supported Health Insurance Pool, for people who have been denied coverage. We pay a LOT of money ($360/month) just for her premiums. Its analogous to people with bad credit trying to finance a car - they have to pay extra for the privilege. Do I have alternatives? Are benefits-pooling companies worth it?
posted by neilkod
on Jun 16, 2005 -
11 answers
My boyfriend and I are leaving from Ottawa to Honolulu in 10 days for 10 days. Should we book the hotels, car rentals and inter-island flights in advance or can we get away with doing it when we get there?
[more inside]
posted by KathyK
on May 31, 2005 -
11 answers
Just ordered
a new digital camera. All those months of research and comparing are finally over! But now I'm thinking about the perils of theft or damage. If some thug takes my new toy while I'm on vacation, will my homeowner's insurance cover me?
[more inside]
posted by grabbingsand
on May 28, 2005 -
9 answers
CSI Filter: How do I find the person who hit my car given that it was a woman driving a blue SUV that hit my car in State College, PA at approximately 12:11 AM May 26th, 2005?
[more inside]
posted by Fat Guy
on May 26, 2005 -
14 answers
Car Insurance question - I was in an accident over New Years, where a friend of mine and I were hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street. The driver fled, and was never caught by the cops. 5 months later, I've found out he filed a claim with his car insurance company for a significant amount of money, and been approved.
[more inside]
posted by SweetJesus
on May 18, 2005 -
17 answers
I am strongly considering taking a new job, but the benefits package is, frankly, horrible compared to the one I have with my current job. However, the new job promises to be
much more fulfilling than the current one. How can I make up for the lack of good benefits?
[more inside]
posted by mike9322
on May 12, 2005 -
5 answers
I'm on vacation in Portland, Oregon and our lame insurance won't pay for any healthcare. Anyway, there's a $200 deductible. I can go to an urgent care for $200, but was wondering if anyone knows of a pediatrician somewhere that will take walk-ins that might cost a little less than Urgent Care. I know there's a free clinic in Vancouver, but we don't really qualify, although I suppose we could go there and make a large donation.
[more inside]
posted by mecran01
on May 9, 2005 -
6 answers
My girlfriend was rear-ended a few days ago and the rear of her car is damaged. It's still very driveable, but she has to do a ton of little things like meet with the adjuster, get estimates for repairs, etc. The insurance company of the guy who hit her has been decently accomodating so far, but I'm wondering if she's eligible for compensation for the time it will take to comply with their procedures? And how do we go about asking for that if indeed she is?
posted by Mayor Curley
on Apr 28, 2005 -
17 answers
I am being sued for damages related to an auto accident. The lawyer from the insurance firm is representing my case. Should I get my own lawyer?
[more inside]
posted by sophist
on Apr 26, 2005 -
13 answers
I was in a car accident about four years ago where I rear-ended another vehicle. AFAIK, it was my fault, but no one seemed injured at the time, and now I'm being sued for thousands more than my liability auto insurance will cover. If they are awarded what they're asking through arbitration or through a judgement, what are my options for paying the portion which my insurance won't cover? Background and other related questions inside.
[more inside]
posted by xiojason
on Apr 26, 2005 -
12 answers
We're getting conflicting advice on this one. We're planning to rent a car in Mexico, Los Cabos specifically, for about a week. Insurance through the rental car company will more than double our total bill. Can we use the coverage offered by our U.S. credit card? Any experience with either option?
[more inside]
posted by _sirmissalot_
on Apr 22, 2005 -
6 answers
My wife and I were struck by a car as we were crossing the street on Monday. We have health insurance, and have no intention of suing the guy, but what should we expect in regards to insurance?
[more inside]
posted by jackofsaxons
on Apr 19, 2005 -
25 answers
We have plenty of Minnesota residents here, right? I just moved to Minnesota a few months ago and am now purchasing a new vehicle (well, used) but need to transport it from Iowa.
[more inside]
posted by angry modem
on Apr 6, 2005 -
9 answers
Why is dental insurance so lousy? My wife and I have managed to get decent (though too expensive) health coverage, but the only dental coverage we can find provides only a few hundred more dollars coverage per year than you pay for it. And it's not just a self-employment thing: when I worked at a pharmaceutical-related company, the medical and vision coverage was fine but the dental was similarly lousy. Is there some structural reason for this? You'd think some company would offer better service in the hope the masses would flock to it.
posted by languagehat
on Mar 28, 2005 -
14 answers
An associate, while returning from a work site after 5 p.m. and was on a personal errand, had his car broken into and along with personal items, his work laptop was stolen. His homeowner's insurance covered his personal items, but obviously would not cover his work owned laptop. His employer, on the other hand, is demanding that he pay for the cost of the laptop (a 3 year old Dell bought for approximately $700, which they consider to be worth $590). He works for a fairly large non-profit located in Maryland. The laptop was purchased with a technical grant, which I expect would have demanded insurance. And he doesn't believe that he signed anything that would have made him liable.
What are his rights?
posted by Heatwole
on Mar 18, 2005 -
18 answers
Photographers and videographers: How are you insuring your gear? I've started to look into insurance for my recently-acquired DSLR, and I'm having trouble finding insurers that cover photo equipment, particularly equipment that goes to other countries with me.
[more inside]
posted by xo
on Mar 14, 2005 -
3 answers
I just bought a spiffy new HP laptop. I declined the third-party extended warranty at the time of purchase...
[more inside]
posted by enrevanche
on Mar 14, 2005 -
2 answers
Is the extra insurance offered by rental car agencies really needed, or is it just a big scam?
[more inside]
posted by o0o0o
on Mar 9, 2005 -
16 answers
A fender-bender has, uh, bent my bumper. Torn the rear one off half the frame, specifically. The car is old enough that no one makes the right size bumper/brackets anymore. Plus the frame need a bunch of work before it can accept a bracket again. Insurance declared a total, but has left open the option to repair. Several folks have suggested unbolting the other end and running w/o a bumper. Is this safe?? Not to mention legal? What would you do?
[more inside]
posted by nakedcodemonkey
on Mar 2, 2005 -
20 answers
I'm thinking of quitting my job to start my own business. However, I need to have decent health insurance, mostly for perscription drug coverage. What is the best company to go with, and is there an optimal type of insurance for my needs (occassional doctor visits, perscription coverage with reasonable co-pays)? And what can I expect to pay?
posted by skechada
on Feb 24, 2005 -
14 answers
What kind/ how much car insurance do I need for a 1996 Honda Accord with 175k miles? I'm considering dropping the collision/comprehensive coverage.
[more inside]
posted by electroboy
on Feb 17, 2005 -
9 answers
What's the best (cheapest) way to handle renters insurance?
posted by cmonkey
on Feb 16, 2005 -
13 answers
What's the difference between a dental plan and dental insurance? My employer doesn't provide any dental insurance, and I don't know which I want or why. Oh, if it matters, I'm in PA
posted by filmgeek
on Feb 12, 2005 -
3 answers
Dangerous lack of health care! I've been taking Trileptal for the past 2-3 years. I recently stopped taking it (about a week and a half ago) because no insurance + no job = no pills. Obviously, I'll talk with my doctor, but I don't think I want to go back on. (More inside.)
[more inside]
posted by billybunny
on Feb 3, 2005 -
17 answers
My boyfriend wants to have his mother from Morocco come visit us in the US. She has some health problems including Diabetes.
Does anyone have any information about how we can get some health insurance for her while she is here visiting just in case we need for some reason seek medical assistance during her stay?
posted by Gooney
on Feb 3, 2005 -
4 answers
Our family is possibly going on a trip this summer, but I would like to buy non-emergency, non-medical travel insurance. This is basically insurance if I change my mind, or if my plans have to change. My search thus far has proven fruitless. Any suggestions? [more inside]
[more inside]
posted by fionab
on Jan 22, 2005 -
5 answers
I just got a letter from my home insurance company (US) saying I need to have an inspection. I've been with them for over 3 years, no claims. Should I be worried? Are they setting me up to cancel my insurance? I've not heard of such a thing before. I'm considering calling my mortgage company, and asking if this is SOP.
I live in a working class town, house built in 1926, in decent shape. I've been making repairs as I could afford them (and figure out how to do them). Because of the age of the house, I'm sure they could find something nasty, if they were really looking.
posted by QIbHom
on Jan 21, 2005 -
12 answers
Does anyone have experience with non-profit liability insurance policies? We're looking at a general liability policy for our small non-profit, plus liability coverage for individual board members.
posted by F Mackenzie
on Jan 19, 2005 -
5 answers
My COBRA runs out tomorrow. I've applied to a private carrier and was declined already. I was under the impression that if there wasn't a 63 day gap in coverage, they had to insure me. [mi]
[more inside]
posted by pieoverdone
on Jan 10, 2005 -
6 answers
