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Indigo Labs: bringing liquid nutrition ideas to life.: An article from: Nutraceuticals World

After the death of a loved one there are many things to tend to. One that most people don’t look forward to is dealing with financial matters. The funeral costs need to be addressed as do any outstanding bills that the deceased may have had.

For the survivors they may need some guidance when it comes to filing the life insurance policy claim. Not everyone discusses the details of what happens after death with their spouse or partner. Therefore not everyone knows where the important financial documents are kept. If you do know where the life insurance policy is it can make the process much easier.

If you don’t have access to it, you can still find out the details by contacting the insurance company. They will be able to put you in touch with the agent who handled the sale of the policy. He or she will be most helpful as they have first hand knowledge of what the policy covers.

The agent will also be able to arrange a time for you to meet with them. This is an important part of the process as they can help you to fill out all the forms that you are required to submit the claim for the life insurance. Although you can do this yourself it’s wise to have the agent assist you as even a small mistake can cause a delay in payment.

Before you submit the forms you’ll need to obtain a copy of the death certificate. This is necessary as it is proof that the person died. Depending on the cause of death the insurance company may also require additional documentation including an autopsy report. If the death is suspicious or the insurance company suspects that suicide is involved, depending on the policy, they may launch their own investigation.

Any documents that you send in to the insurance company will most likely need to be either originals or notarized copies. This is due to the fact that the company needs to be certain that the person in question really has passed away and from the cause specified.

Once you have sent in the required documentation you will have to wait. In many cases the insurance company will simply authorize payment and the beneficiary will be issued their payment. If there are any questions regarding the documents the insurance company will request more information before authorizing the claim.

If someone close to you has passed and you are unsure about whether or not they did indeed have a life insurance policy you can investigate this yourself. Often a life insurance policy will turn up while going through a person’s personal belongings.

Many people also have a job where they are entitled to an employee life insurance policy. If you suspect this to be the case simply inquire with their former employer after their death. They will be able to provide you with all of the applicable details.

Some people tend to think that insurance is more of a gambling game and they fear becoming a victim. However this could be true but definitely a misconception to some extent because insurance should not be generalized. Life insurance quote is not for the dead but for those who are living and therefore since no one will live in this world like a rock, it is important to ask yourself how you will leave your family or business if you died. I know that you definitely would not like to leave them with any financial crisis which is why insurance policies exist in the first place.

Today many people have embarked on this sort of business of Insurance, and they are enthusiastic to helping people find the best life insurance quote for their families and businesses. Remember you do not only take life insurance policies for yourself but for your beneficiaries too and this offers a peace of mind for you. Life insurance policy is divided into maturity terms/ endowment policy or death/whole life policy claims. For maturity term, one buys insurance premiums for a number of years and when this expires one returns the policy documents, signs a discharge form and them collects his claims benefits.

On the other hand, the death claim premiums are paid indefinitely or until one dies and then the beneficiaries collect the claim benefits. The life insurer only requires them to have paid the all the premiums up to date, provide original copy of death certificate, burial permit, a copy of the diseased identity card and a doctors report about the cause of his death. The choice concerning which among the two to buy is left to the buyer. Remember when you buy any life insurance policy or just any kind of insurance you are referred to as the insured while the company you are buying from becomes the insurer. The thing for which you enter in to contract with the insurer is the policy while the monthly whatever installment you pay thereof is called the premium.

The premium paid for life insurance quote depends on the material information provided to the insurer which indicates the financial strength of the insured hence offering the compatible “consideration”. Also the period after which one is supposed to pay and how to do this depends with the insurer and they concur with the insured. if you opt for endowment policy, then it perhaps you are planning to put some investment later after receiving the claims benefits. You are the first hand beneficiary not unless you die before the expiry of the term and if not, then you will have savings after all to put in your own pocket. Conversely, the life insurance policy, the significant others in your life take advantage of your outcome after you pass on.

So for the choice as to which one between the life insurance quote to pick should entirely correspond to your objectives. Again you should approach insurance brokers so they can help you to purchase the best life policy in complete reference to your goals in terms of how much to pay and the other terms and conditions necessary. He is the best intermediary you could have to negotiate these terms on your behalf. Get your quote now and apply online.

Poly Muthumbi is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Debt for Years. For More Information Visit Her Site at LIFE INSURANCE QUOTE

Your spouse dies and you are aware that s/he had a sizable life insurance policy. You welcome your new acquired wealth but you are not certain how to handle it. For someone accustomed to handling large sums of money there is no problem but for the average person there is a disturbing uncertainty that doesn’t seem to leave your mind.

I have seen situations where the surviving spouse was so prepared that handling life insurance proceeds was like a walk in the park. On the other hand, I have also seen the good intentions of a loving spouse come to nothing because of the lack of a good plan.

Immediate Expenses

Upon the death of any individual there are certain instant expenses that come into play. You have to consider burial costs, probate costs, attorneys fees etc. Some people have sufficient cash on hand to take care of these things. For those who do not you should prioritize the task of proving the death of your loved one. A death certificate will be of great help. If there is a newspaper clipping of the circumstances of the persons death you should also provide a copy of it to the life insurance company.

You also need to prove that you are the person mentioned as primary beneficiary on the policy. A copy of your birth certificate as well as your marriage certificate will be of great help.

You will find that reputable life insurance companies will work with you and try to get the money into your hands as quickly as possible. If you can get into contact with the agent you will find that s/he will be a great help in expediting things.

How To Take Proceeds

You will need a lump sum to take care of the immediate costs arising from the death of your spouse but you should give serious thought to taking the bulk of the proceeds in the form of an income. If you are uncertain how to do this it is recommended that you use the “interest income” option until you have a chance to really think about what you want to do. The life insurance company will pay you the interest in whatever manner you choose. Your principal will remain in tact.

If the income of the deceased spouse was important to the standard in which you have become accustomed then it may be wise to take the proceeds in the form of a “life income”. You will never outlive it.

If your need for income is a temporary one then you may choose to use a “fixed period income” or a “fixed amount income” for whatever period you desire. Let us suppose you are age 55 when your spouse dies. Let us also suppose that you have a sizable pension that you will receive at age 62. You would then need to take the income you require for 7 years in order to maintain your lifestyle. You take the balance of the life insurance policy proceeds in a lump sum at that time.

Healthy and Turned Down for Life Insurance? Here’s What to Do

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Home Page Finance Healthy and Turned Down for Life Insurance? Here’s What to Do
Healthy and Turned Down for Life Insurance? Here’s What to Do

Posted: Apr 23rd, 2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 37 |

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Healthy and Turned Down for Life Insurance? Here’s What to DoAuthor: Amy Danise

You are in good health and you see your doctor regularly, so what should you do now that you were turned down for life insurance based on the results of the medical exam?

The first step is not to panic. While it is possible that a life insurance medical exam can reveal serious health problems of which you might not have been aware, in many cases you may be denied insurance or charged higher premiums simply because the medical underwriter found something troubling that he or she could not explain from your medical history.

Medical underwriters specialize in classifying risks, and when they find something abnormal

The Lowdown on Life Insurance Medical Exams

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Home Page Finance The Lowdown on Life Insurance Medical Exams
The Lowdown on Life Insurance Medical Exams

Posted: May 23rd, 2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 169 |

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The Lowdown on Life Insurance Medical ExamsAuthor: Amy Danise

There are three main ways a new life insurance policy is priced: Underwritten policies are those where you answer questions on your personal and family medical history and undergo a medical exam arranged by the insurance company; a simplified issue life insurance policy application asks you some medical questions but does not require a medical exam; and a guaranteed issue life insurance policy requires no questions and no medical exam. If you’re healthy, or even if you have a few medical problems, you’re likely to get the best insurance value from an underwritten policy, which is priced specifically for you. Simplified issue and guaranteed issue life insurance policies set a price that assumes risk that you may not have.

Whether you’re buying term life insurance or whole life insurance, you’ll likely be asked to undergo a medical exam. These are typically performed by licensed paramedicals who are often independent contractors hired by the insurance company. They will schedule a visit to your home for the exam and bring all the necessary supplies. The life insurance company foots the bill for the exam.

Health questions

When you submit your completed application for your life insurance policy, your agent or life insurer will call a paramedical service to let them know you require an life insurance medical exam. The service will then contact you to arrange a convenient time and place. You must have the exam or your application won’t be processed.

The life insurer may still request an attending physician’s statement (APS) from your doctor, but you cannot have the life insurance medical exam done by your own physician.

In a basic exam, the paramedical will take your medical history (even though you’ve already supplied it on your application), height and weight, blood pressure, pulse, and blood and urine samples. Beyond that, tests will vary based on your age and policy amount.

For example, MetLife will order an in-home EKG for applicants age 50 and older who are applying for face amounts of at least $1 million. For applicants age 70 and older who are applying for $2 million policies and higher, MetLife forgoes the paramedical exam and requires an exam by an M.D. chosen by MetLife (not your own doctor). The doctor will ask the same medical questions as a paramedical and get your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse, plus do a brief medical exam such as listening to your heart.

Jacki Goldstein, Vice President of Life Underwriting at MetLife, emphasizes that this is not a comprehensive medical exam and does not include sensitive issues, such as a breast exam for women. Goldstein also stresses that the M.D. life insurance exam is not a substitute for good routine medical care.

When age and face amounts get higher, a treadmill test may be required. For example, MetLife requires treadmill tests for applicants who are at least 50 and applying for over $10 million in insurance or applicants 76 and older applying for $5 million or more.

If you’re applying for a low face value policy, you may not even be asked to do a paramedical exam. For example, if you’re age 40 and applying for $50,000 of life insurance, MetLife requires no specific tests or measurements. And for some cases, MetLife asks for a “simple paramed” exam, encompassing the basic measurements and blood and urine work but without the paramedical question list. Guidelines for tests will vary among life insurers.

What are They Looking For?

The life insurance company wants to know if you have any health condition that could shorten your life

As a teacher I work with individuals or very small groups of students. When I am planning my lessons I can often spend hours trying to find a suitable activity for the student or students to work on. I may have a list of good websites or online games, but you need to check each one to make sure it still exists before you can list it as a learning activity. I may have a good activity but it may not suit the individual students learning style. For whatever reason I and all my colleagues can spend a lot of time seeking out online resources.

You may already know from experience, or can simply imagine, how many lists there are online of good websites or resources. In fact there are so many now that there are lists of lists of really good resources. This would appear to solve the problem. If I cannot find one of my own favourite websites, just look on one of these lists for something, check it out and away you go! Fine in principle but doesn’t work in practice. These lists say things like “xxx website – really good for fractions” or “nice shopping activity” sometimes you may get a whole two sentences describing the site or activity. If the descriptions were any larger any list with more than 10 sites listed would take an age to scan down to find what you wanted and there are hundreds of ‘definitive lists’ out there.

So what we need is some kind of structure where we can describe or categorise websites or pages in such a way that you can easily find the most relevant ones and then some kind of narrative to tell you the best points or direct you to the actual part or section you need.

This structure also needs to updateable so dead links can be removed, addresses changed or updated and new things added. It would need moderating so it doesn’t get filled with commercial adverts and spam links.

Finally I believe the structure needs to be able to be cross referenced because one site may cover a whole swathe of the curriculum whereas another may be tightly focused.

My personal copy of the curricula I use (the Adult Core Curricula for literacy and numeracy) has a thousand post-its and pencil notes in it and on it. It means I can reference a particular resource to a particular curriculum element or skill. If a site disappears or moves I can update my notes to reflect the change. But you cannot see my curriculum.

What we need is a global copy of the curriculum that we can all stick post-its on. So I built it!

The Skills for Life Living Documentation Project (S4L/LDP) or http://www.peterburgess.net/index.php  is a wiki based copy of the literacy and numeracy curricula that anyone can add to, cross reference and edit. If you know of a good resource then you can find the element that it relates to and put the link on that elements entry. If the resource deserves an entry of its own then you can add that and searching the project will show that in its results. I have added Key Skills activities, links to resources, definitions and the entire text of both curricula and then cross referenced them.

The S4L/LDP is my solution to the problem as I saw it, but its strength is that any tutor can add their own content to it and take the project in the direction they want. There is no right or wrong, it is just a shared resource and a structure for sharing skills and knowledge.

Why not add your favourite 5 resources or activities or lesson plans, or anything that is relevant to the project if they are not already listed. The project is not there to suck up your lesson planning time but rather to be dipped into, add a little here and there when you can but with enough people adding just a little each there hopefully will be enough good material to be that place online to get the answers you need quickly and successfully.

What is one of the most complex things you have learned in life that you actually did very easily?

The language of your family. You grew up immersed in it, as everyone around you was speaking it; you automatically learned it by copying them. The fact that your specific language characteristics will vary depending upon the region of the country you were in is clear evidence that you learned from those you were around.

You actually became proficient with this complex skill set without even knowing you were doing it. Do you realize how powerful a personal growth and development tool you have that you are not exercising any choice over?

You are the product of the people and situations that have surrounded you during your life. Everyone and everything you have had contact with has had some kind of influence on your life.

Your thoughts, habits, how you perceive things, mannerisms, speech, opinions, beliefs, how you deal with situations, how you interact with people, the things you like to do and your emotional reactions all have been heavily influenced without your choice.

You have modeled much from your parents and others that you have closely associated with over the years, without even realizing that you are doing it. Now that’s efficient learning! Wouldn’t it have been nice if the learning process in your formal education was this effortless!

Now you may not like all that you have become, since you want to change, but you must admit you are definitely a good example of what you have been modeling all these years. If you make the effort to analyze how you are similar to your lifelong surrounding, you will clearly see yourself in those people and situations.

Is your dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety or depression partially related to what you may have picked up from others in life?

What about a positive attitude, self-motivation, abilities for coping with stress, a deep self-awareness or goal setting habits? Have you been able to pick up any of these positive-thinking attributes from anyone?

All this time you’ve been using this ability to copy others unconsciously to construct who you are today, what if you could take command of the ability and do it on purpose? What if everything you did was an affirmation for specifically what you want!

Since you are so good at modeling, why not use that ability to help make the changes in your life that you desire by consciously choosing specifically who and what to model?

We all come naturally equipped with many powerful abilities that we are not totally utilizing, that if managed better, would support the happiness and satisfaction we crave.

Modeling or copying thought patterns and behavior others have already proven lead to success in their life can be applied to yours with similar outcomes. Just as the characteristics of any raw material, like steel, is the same no matter who is working it, thoughts and actions follow predictable laws.

Whenever you plant an apple seed, if you get anything, you will get an apple tree – always! Never a peach nor a rose. Specific thoughts and actions lead to known outcomes, there is evidence of this everywhere in this universe. Isn’t what we call science the study of how things work predictably?

Another factor that seems to work against your efforts to change and grow is also based on all that you have unknowingly accumulated over the years. This is your basic resistance to change what currently is.

Your life is what it is today and it will take some form of applied energy to change it. Take the example of a piece of steel; if left alone, it will stay in its current form. It takes some sort of focused energy specifically applied to change its form, like heat, force or pressure.

All things tend to stay as they are if there is not something affecting some influence upon it.

Now you are always changing to a certain degree whether you want to or not, but the part of our thought processes commonly called the ego, seems to work to keep things as they are.

So, change in your life will usually take some effort on your part. And the effort must affect all that you have accumulated up to this point.

The thing that many people have difficulty with is in figuring out what and how to change. This may seem odd until you think about how you perceive, analyze and interpret everything based on what you have developed into at this point.

You see, you are trying to do something completely new to you, using the knowledge, experience and mental tools you have used to support your current life. It’s like trying to make a light bulb before glass was invented.

Again this is where the value of modeling known success is evident, you can use the proven developments of someone else to shorten or eliminate the learning curve for yourself. Why go through the long arduous process yourself when someone has already done it.

I’m not saying you won’t ever figure these things out on your own, but how long will it take, if ever? You can choose to use your time and efforts towards actually integrating a known success habit or trait into your life, rather than trying to discover it on your own.

Be more like a scientist with your life, take what others have already proven and carry on from there.

Choose to make part of your life that which supports the life you want, with the help of others.

If you haven’t heard of Second Life, the online virtual world and latest internet phenomenon, by now, I predict that you will hear of it again within the next month and by the end of the year on a weekly basis.

If you’re interested in business and have a need to use PR, then my advice is that you perform a search for Second Life as soon as you finish the article and ‘gem up’. It’s that much of a big thing.

But I’m not writing this article because I want you to use Second Life, that’s up to you. As a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant, I have an interest in the future of the public relations, of brand building and of experiential marketing and I believe that’s what Second Life can offer and that’s why it’s going to be huge.

5 Senses Brand Experience

What your brand gets out of Second Life is what I call a 5 Senses Brand Experience. It’s web browsing in 3-D, something very difficult to create with the copy on a 2-D website, with the strapline on a print ad or an image on the TV pushed in between the show you’re audience is trying to enjoy.

The brand experience in a virtual world is comprehensive. You can totally interact with your audience using sights, sounds, touch, colours, music and messages. It’s interactive, engaging and memorable; the best thing is it’s permissive.

They’re only there, experiencing your brand because they want to be.

PR Opportunities

The PR opportunities are enormous. Here’s a few ideas; Be the first in your industry to open an office in Second Life, you’ll show yourself to be innovative and forward thinking when you use press releases and newsletters to tell the media about it. Invite your customers for a meeting in your Second Life office, take a picture and mail a copy to the media – image led stories are always popular. You could even offer a prize to the first person to complete a quest within your land while they are experiencing your brand. It’s different and interesting, so will get written about.

Just about any copy published with your brand next to Second Life is going to be beneficial. Soon everyone will be doing it, so don’t wait until it becomes ordinary.

So a ‘second life’ for your business will add dimensions to your brand. With PR, you can make it an opportunity to engage with new markets. That must be worth a second thought

What is the process of filing a life insurance claim?

To start, make sure that you have several copies of the policyholder’s death certificate, which can be obtained by one of the following sources:

•    The hospital from where the policyholder passed
•    The coroner’s office
•    The funeral director

After you obtain the copies, you should get in touch with the policyholder’s life insurance agent, bring them a copy of the policyholder’s death certificate, and complete the claim paperwork. If you don’t know who your policyholder’s life insurance agent was, there is no need to worry. All you have to do is contact the policyholder’s life insurance company, and an insurance agent can assist you there.

How does the death benefit work?

Your death benefit can work in one of the four ways of your choosing:

•    Lump sum – The whole death benefit will be given to you in one payment.
•    Life income – You get a steady income paid out to you for life, but the amount is based on the following:
•    Your benefit amount
•    Your gender
•    How old the policyholder was at the time of death.
•    Specific interest provision – At a pre-determined schedule, the life insurance company will pay you both the interest and the principle.
•    Interest income – The death benefit will remain in tact, and the life insurance company continues to hold the proceeds. You will be paid interest and be the next policyholder in line, and the proceeds will go to the second beneficiary when you pass.

Whichever option you choose, the law demands for life insurance companies to pay you the death benefit in some form or another within days. Check with your local division of insurance to learn more about the legal guidelines.

I can’t locate my policyholder’s life insurance policy. What should I do?

With life insurance, there are no databases to locate a purchased life insurance policy, which explains why policyholders and beneficiaries should know where to locate them. You can try doing the following:

•    Search for records, safes, safe deposit boxes in banks, and storage areas for documents dealing with insurance, check stubs, policy notices, or receipts.
•    Get in touch with the policyholder’s attorney and financial consultants. Usually, policyholders consult with these people to handle affairs after their death.
•    Talk with the policyholder’s employer(s) to see if they purchased a group life insurance policy.
•    Check the policyholder’s tax returns for any type of interest transferred from or to a life insurance agency.
•    Lookout for any annual life insurance premium mailings or dividend notices to come through the mail.
•    If the policyholder resided in Canada at some point, call the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association to check for a Canadian life insurance policy. Their phone number is (800) 268-8009.
•    Check the MIB Database to find the policyholder’s application that they filled out to obtain a life insurance policy. It costs $75 to look through. Note that one in five life insurance policy applications are found, but it may be worth it.

I’m going through a tough time financially, but I don’t want to end my life insurance coverage. What should I do?

Whatever you do, don’t skip payments on your monthly premiums because it would ultimately lead the life insurance company to terminate your coverage. Here are a few options to take when you are suffering financially:

•    Choose to cash out your policy, which will allow you to discontinue premium payments and accept the available cash value. Be forewarned though that you could be taxed if the cash value exceeds what you paid in premiums.
•    Choose to non-forfeiture, if the option is available to you. A non-forfeiture allows you to stop premium payments for a reduced death benefit without any cash savings. It would also allow you to change your whole life insurance policy to an extended term life insurance policy.
•    Choose to lapse policy, which would terminate your life insurance coverage. However, some insurance companies allow you to reinstate your policy within five years if:
•    You pay all the delinquent premiums and interest
•    You pass a medical exam.

When In Doubt, Ask A Life Insurance Agent

Don’t be afraid to speak to an insurance agent at any time to discuss more about life insurance policies. The more you understand them, the more you will be able to judge what type of coverage is right for you and your loved ones.

staff contribution: Brandon Clayton