By KEN BELSON For many drivers, trying to figure out where auto insurance premiums are headed is like trying to catch butterflies: just when you get close, they fly off in another direction. Many indicators that analysts typically use to forecast premiums have been in flux. Highway miles driven nationally have risenbut not as much as last year, and the millions of unemployed drivers are using their... 

Individuals and families need to choose an insurance plan best suited to their needs and budgets. Different options are available based on plan type. Health insurance began in the 1930s with the Blue Cross offering pre-paid hospitalization. With its success, physicians formed Blue Shield. Prior to that time, there was little demand for health insurance in the U.S. Insurance to cover lost wages because... 

Whether you’re single or have a family, one of your biggest expenses is probably health insurance. Hey, you’re not alone. Health insurance costs seem to increase every year for most of us. According to US News, families paid an average of almost $3,300 for coverage in 2007. Think that high cost gives you an excuse not to have health insurance? Think again! Unpaid medical bills are one of... 

By Catey Hill The cellphone falls into the toilet. Your daughter gets the flu the day before you were leaving on safari. Your dog tears his ACL wrestling with another pooch. At any time, the events and accidents of daily life can threaten to put a serious crimp in your style – and a dent in your wallet. Good news: There’s insurance for that. The market has exploded recently for what are called... 

By Angie C. Marek Surveys have found most of the 159 million Americans covered by employer health insurance plans spend less than 30 minutes picking a plan each fall. But is that enough time? Because of health care reform, experts say, most employees will be seeing big changes in their benefits this year. What to look for: Plan for price hikes The rising cost of medical care and new requirements... 

FOR MOST PEOPLE, the right type of life insurance can be summed up in a single word: term. But before we explain why, it’s important to understand the differences between the most common types of insurance available. Our glossary can help with that, and decipher some of the more common insurance lingo. The basic difference between term and whole life insurance is this: A term policy is life... 

You can’t change many of your risk factors. But you can save money by taking advantage of discounts that insurers offer for behavior that lowers your risk. That could be anything from driving less than the average number of miles per year to quitting smoking. Certain types of people — senior citizens, for instance — also are eligible for price cuts. You’ll also save by installing...