When a report came out earlier this year about a link between autism and the measles vaccination, parents began to think twice about the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) shots and booster shots. Thus when an unvaccinated student traveled overseas, he ended up getting sick and contaminating 9 others when he got back. Without the shots and the international health insurance, the local government ended up spending $300,000 just to stop the contamination from spreading. If the student got booster shots as well as international travel health insurance, the results would probably have been different.
In the first place, the report linking autism to the MMR shots is unsubstantiated. There is no proof to this allegation or no study that can even slightly confirm the possibility of a link. The measles outbreak included having to quarantine almost 185 people who were believed to have had close contact with the student. The same situation is happening in Canada with an outbreak of 757 cases because of unvaccinated persons.
Read full post…
OFT (Office of Fair Trading) worked as a Consumer watch dog and traced down the main factors behind these soaring premium rates. It did an investigation while working with Ministry of Justice and FSA. The final judgment will be out till December. But we have a few tit-bits of the investigation.
As a matter of fact, the main reason behind the hike in premium rates is the risk involved in covering young drivers and there fragile customer loyalty.Evidence suggests that Technology can help overcome this situation and be a savior for the young generation. Telematics also known as Black Box or Clear Box can be used in cars to monitor the driver’s record. This is a gadget smaller than a smart phone that can be installed in the dashboard of a car. This will monitor driving style, and assess their performance on different parameters such as the time of day traveled, speed (most important), acceleration, braking, distance traveled and even number of accidents.
Clear Box will also encourage young drivers to drive safely and less aggressively. I
Read full post…
Insurance. We all rest a little easier knowing we have it. Car insurance, medical insurance, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. But what about dental insurance? And what are the differences between dental insurance and discount dental plans?
Dental insurance offers different plan options: a dental health maintenance organization (DHMO), a dental preferred provider organization (DPPO), or dental indemnity insurance, which is traditional fee-for-service insurance. There are pros and cons for each of these, but with dental insurance, unlike discount dental plans, there are copayments, deductibles, annual maximums and waiting periods before coverage kicks in.
Discount dental plans provide discount dental care fees through a network of qualified dentists – in most cases, the same dentists who accept dental insurance. With discount dental plans, there is no waiting period before you can take advantage of services, no deductibles, and no annual maximums. Read full post…
The inflation rate in New Zealand over the past 12 months has been 4.6 per cent, in part because of the impact of the GST increase in 2010. Over the past five years, inflation has averaged a more modest 2.9 per cent.
At either of these rates, the impact on the spending power of our savings can be substantial, even over relatively short periods. At an annual inflation rate of 2.9 per cent, $100 will buy $87 worth of goods in five years’ time, and in 10 years it will have the spending power of only $75. At the rate we have seen over the past year of 4.6 per cent, the impact is even greater. After five years, $100 has the spending power of $80 and, over a decade, this reduces to just $64.
The lesson for investors is that inflation is always in the background, eroding the value of their capital, and it remains one of the key factors to consider when structuring an investment portfolio.
Bank deposit rates are around 4.5 per cent and after tax at 30 per cent this reduces to 3.2 per cent.
Read full post…
If you own a growing company with lots of opportunities, you are probably aware about the importance of human factor. Today, the employees are not only attracted by a good salary, as they also have other needs. For the first interview, the potential candidate will ask you about the health package, the insurance coverage your company provides transportation and lunch tickets. Researches showed that employees are willing to stay at the same company for a long time without a salary raise as long as the supplementary package is consistent. If you want to adopt this strategy for your company, you should check the whole life insurance packages for companies.
By buying programs of this kind, you will prove your implication and preoccupation for the good life of the employees, increasing their will to work and their dedication. While the non participation insurance options are available for companies, you should choose a unit linked option. Read full post…
Not all concept cars make it into production and many are not intended for production, but are simply the car makers way of testing new ideas. Some cars that were never intended to be more than concepts receive so much attention at auto shows that manufacturers decide the car should be produced for sale. Most concept cars undergo significant changes before being released to the market. Here are some likely market entries for 2013.
The Volkswagen e-up!
This all electric concept car is set for release in 2013. The vehicle has a top speed of about 83.8 miles per hour and a mileage range of about 93 miles on a single charge. The batteries are located in the underbody of the car while the motor and other components are in the front engine compartment. The e-up! is a compact model and features arc shaped LED running lights on either side of the front bumper.
The KTM E3W
Austrian car maker KTM will be releasing its E3W 3 wheeled concept car in 2013.
Read full post…
— Melissa Evans @ 11:55 am — 
November 29, 2011